Should I Get A Carfax Report Or An Autocheck Report?

Purchasing a used auto can be incredibly scary. Carfax and Autocheck both aim to make that used-car purchasing process easier. The car-buying process generally consists of a vehicle history report. So should you trust Carfax or Autocheck to give you information?

What should a automobile history report consist of

Any vehicle history report, no matter what the source, should contain a few unique elements. A part of the report that lets you know if you will find major mechanical problems, called a Lemon Check, is very essential. A clear history of registration and titling of the vehicle is also essential – big gaps in the history raise red flags. Odometer rollback, accidents, and salvage titles should also be a part of the vehicle history report.

Reasons why Carfax my be a better option

Carfax reports are available since about 1984. With Carfax, you can get two separate types of reports. A free report gives you just the essential history of the automobile, while a paid report gives you the full history of the car. Many times, vehicle lot or pre-owned vehicle salespeople will provide a free Carfax report for any automobile they sell. Carfax is well respected as a vehicle history provider, and has partnerships with everyone from the National Institute for Highway Safety to J.D. Power Associates.

How Autocheck differs from Carfax

Autocheck is a service that opened fairly recently – a start-up owned and funded by credit reporting agency Experian. In 2009, there was a study that found Autocheck reports tended to report about twice the number of accidents as Carfax, though the severity of the accidents varied. Automotive auctions are also incorporated on Autocheck reports, and are usually incorporated for auctions. The free Autocheck report has a comparable amount of info as the Carfax reports.

Which to choose – Autocheck or Carfax?

In general, both Carfax and Autocheck do a very good job of providing used car history reports. If you are undecided, then the best option is to use both Carfax and Autocheck to get a free report on a potential car buy. Ideally, your used-car dealer should provide a automobile history report from one of these two providers. If you are paying for your own vehicle history report, then either one is a reliable option.